question for Arielsalaverria

[bartblade]

on the timing chain damascus
will the chain steel hold an edge just the same as the center steel you used on it? also can you use regular soldering flux on it to get it to weld? because im real interested it starting on forging my own steel and damascus.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Bartblade, I'll jump in here to give you a simple answer.The chain damascus won't hold an edge like the center steel.Thats why you make it up as san mai.The carbon content and way that the chain layers won't make a hard enough steel for edges,but the pattern can be bold.
As for your desire to start forging and make damascus... learn the basics of forging first.Damascus requires two things new forgers rarely have.Experience and equipment.Get some 5160 and learn to forge,when your results are good and consistent,get some 1080 and 15N20 and make up some hammer welded damascus by hand.After you have mastered that,you may want to invest in the equipment needed to make seriously patterned steel.It is not fast and it is certainly not cheap.

 

[jiminy]

And here I thought all one needed was a forge, an anvil, a hammer, some steel, a piece of chain, some Borax, and the guts to give it a whirl.

I'd say go for it. The worst that could happen is you'll learn something ...or is that burn something